BEING A TEXAS AGGIE CORPS OFFICER CADET HE WAS CALLED INTO ACTIVE DUTY IN THE U.S. ARMY. AS A LIEUTENANT, HE WAS A PLATOON LEADER OF A TANK COMPANY IN THE FIRST ARMORED DIVISION AND FOUGHT IN NORTH AFRICA AGAINST THE GERMANS AND GENERAL ROMMEL. IN 1943, HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. WITH HIS COMMANDER, GENERAL LUNSFORD OLIVER, TO HELP IN THE REORGANIZATION OF THE U.S. ARMORED DIVISIONS. HE RETURNED TO EUROPE IN 1944 AS A CAPTAIN AND COMPANY COMMANDER OF 400 MEN AND 44 TANKS. HIS COMPANY, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS, BEGAN THEIR MARCH ACROSS FRANCE TOWARD GERMANY. DURING HIS TIME OF SERVICE, HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, THE SILVER STAR, AND TWICE AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.